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France hosted the eight-team finals of the 1984 European Championship. Belgium, Denmark, France, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Yugoslavia, and the then reigning European champions West Germany were the eight teams that were divided into two groups of four teams each.
The first game of Euro 1984 was played between the hosts and Denmark at the Parc des Princes on 12th June and a Michel Platini strike proved enough for Les Bleus to get the better of the Scandinavians. Denmark suffered a huge blow as their key player and a former Ballon d’Or winner, Allan Simonsen, suffered a broken leg and missed the rest of the tournament. Platini was in a purple patch throughout the tournament and scored a hat-trick each in the next two group games against Belgium and Yugoslavia respectively to help his team to 5-0 and 3-2 wins.
France topped Group A with three wins, while Denmark were second.
In Group B, Spain finished top with one win and two draws and Portugal – playing in their first European Championship – were the runners-up with an identical record. Surprisingly, the reigning champions West Germany failed to make the knockout rounds as they finished third, while Romania came last.
The first semi-final of Euro 1984 between France and Portugal is considered to be among the best matches ever played at the Euros. Jean-Francois Domergue put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute, but a Rui Jordao goal 16 minutes from full time saw the game go into extra time. This time Jordao gave the lead to Portugal with a 98th minute strike, but Domergue equalised in the 114th minute. Platini scored the winner one minute from full time whistle to break Portuguese hearts.
Highlights of the France – Portugal match courtesy of FFF
The second semi-final between Spain and Denmark went to a penalty shootout after the scores were tied 1-1 after extra time. Spain converted all five of their spot kicks to get past the Danes, 5-4.
Platini put France ahead in the 57th minute in the final and a Bruno Bellone goal in the 90th minute ensured that France won their first major trophy in football with a 2-0 win over the Spaniards.
Platini was in superlative form throughout the tournament and ended as the topscorer with his tally of nine goals, it still remains the highest tally for any player at a single edition of the Euros.
Michel Platini’s all nine goals for France at EURO 84 courtesy of UEFA.tv
Wasi is a keen fan with loads of knowledge about the game. He has written for some of the world’s leading soccer websites and is a major Barcelona and Pune City FC fan. He loves the Champions League and watches 200+ EPL games & La Liga games per season.